Published: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 6:49 p.m.

After a long career in law enforcement, Dale Shaffer knows a little bit about crime. Now the Hendersonville resident is using that knowledge to write mysteries in his retirement.

Shaffer has embarked on a fiction-writing journey over the last 10 years inspired by his life in law enforcement.

“I enjoyed my career and I thought it'd be fun to write about it and entertain others with a good mystery,” he said.

Shaffer's first book, “His Honor,” was released this year and follows a detective investigating a corrupt judge in Chicago. The judge is on the take from the Chicago mob, which locally is called the “Outfit.”

Shaffer spent three years in the U.S. Marines Corps, including a year in Korea. He's attended the State Trooper Academy, had management training at the FBI Academy, operated as an expert witness and has a B.S. degree in police administration.

His career began as state trooper in Ohio. After a stop in the private sector at Jeep Corp, his career took a slight shift, but still with law enforcement.

From 1971 until his exit from law enforcement in 1997, Shaffer worked solely in collegiate law enforcement. He was the director of public safety and chief of police at Bowling Green State and at Northwestern University in Illinois. He had a brief two years at Bowling Green State University in Ohio when he was the director of business planning.

Shaffer retired from Northwestern in 1999 and remained in Illinois, moving to Hendersonville in 2003. He had been to every state in the Union, exploring locations during his career, and made the decision to move to Hendersonville.

Shaffer has authored books before. In 1987, he wrote “Public Safety Management Guide.” He wrote a second edition to that book in 1993 along with another book, “Risk Analysis Guide.”

<p>After a long career in law enforcement, Dale Shaffer knows a little bit about crime. Now the Hendersonville resident is using that knowledge to write mysteries in his retirement. </p><p>Shaffer has embarked on a fiction-writing journey over the last 10 years inspired by his life in law enforcement. </p><p>“I enjoyed my career and I thought it'd be fun to write about it and entertain others with a good mystery,” he said.</p><p>Shaffer's first book, “His Honor,” was released this year and follows a detective investigating a corrupt judge in Chicago. The judge is on the take from the Chicago mob, which locally is called the “Outfit.”</p><p>Shaffer spent three years in the U.S. Marines Corps, including a year in Korea. He's attended the State Trooper Academy, had management training at the FBI Academy, operated as an expert witness and has a B.S. degree in police administration. </p><p>His career began as state trooper in Ohio. After a stop in the private sector at Jeep Corp, his career took a slight shift, but still with law enforcement.</p><p>From 1971 until his exit from law enforcement in 1997, Shaffer worked solely in collegiate law enforcement. He was the director of public safety and chief of police at Bowling Green State and at Northwestern University in Illinois. He had a brief two years at Bowling Green State University in Ohio when he was the director of business planning. </p><p>Shaffer retired from Northwestern in 1999 and remained in Illinois, moving to Hendersonville in 2003. He had been to every state in the Union, exploring locations during his career, and made the decision to move to Hendersonville. </p><p>Shaffer has authored books before. In 1987, he wrote “Public Safety Management Guide.” He wrote a second edition to that book in 1993 along with another book, “Risk Analysis Guide.”</p><p>How was it wading into the fiction waters?</p><p>“It's amazing,” Shaffer said. “It was a nice feeling.”</p><p>“His Honor” is available at www.daleshafferbooks.com.</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>